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I have a FOWLR tank that is about a year old. I have some small polyps that I bought, but I wouldn't call it a reef tank, just starting that.

I am seeing lots of new life in my tank, and I wanted to know whats good, and what is bad. Upon scrutiny, I am seeing small tubelike animals, that look like they have built themselves out of my substrate. They vary in length from very small (1/4") to maybe an inch and a half. They have a white whip that comes out and gets food? Can you id?

The next thing I am seeing is some pale yellow algae. Looks like cotton candy or insulation.

I also have a small quarter size black and green algae.

Can you help with identification? My fish (Yellow tang, cinnamon clown, ocellaris clown and blue and yellow damsel) are all healthy. Just seeing some weird stuff in the tank.

Thanks for your help,
Jason

beauty is only skin deep, but stupid goes straight to the bone.....JPH

The tube animals are tube worms. Fals spaghetti worms to be exact. The whips are their feeders that come out to either grab sand/shells to build their tubes and/or grab food. There are very beneficial to your tank.

The yellow alage is a sponge and you also have some pineapple sponges in there (good things and a sign of a maturing tank).

Can't ID the green/black algae but the growth indicates there are sufficient excess nutrients to produce growth and/or your bulbs need replacing. Black is another common color for sponges so they may be mixed. Is the gree alagae getting any length to it and it is hard or soft to the touch. It might be a form of turf alage which is a bit harder to get rid of. Good news is that it typically does not spread fast. mexican turbo snails or something like a tuxedo urchin will remove it and of course keeping up with water quality will prevent it. HTH.

Nothing looks dangerous.. though greech does have a point on the algae growth though it doesn't look all that bad. But the urching will eat the coraline algae as well.. then again so does the turbo.. oh well win some lose some